Here's how the world works

A new catchphrase is buzzing its way around the political salons of Washington and New York. Move over, "tipping point".



The "J curve" is an explanation for the way the world works that is so simple that you can draw it on the back of a paper napkin. Indeed, its inventor, a boyish American political scientist called Ian Bremmer, spent years doing just that.

Bremmer, 36, is chairman and founder of the Eurasia Group, the world's largest political risk consultancy.

When governments and businessmen want to know whether they should invest in a country with a dodgy government, or whether they should run a mile from it because the capital city is about to go up in flames, they come to him.

This article is seven pages long and I can't decide whether it's inspired or a load of guff.